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  1. #1
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    Boracay or Subic Bay ?

    Hi

    I`ve never been to the Philippines but am considering spending a few days there in April.

    I`d be flying in from BKK to Clark ( Manilla if really necessary but not sure I like the sound of that just from what I`ve read)

    Of the 2 destinations in my header which has more nightlife, bars, restaurants ?

    I am not too concerned about day time activities, it will just be a lazy break.

    So evening/night time, some food, some beers and if one of the 2 has better choices for live music, that would win.

    I`m thinking more to Subic, as it also doesn`t involve another flight.

    Any where else to consider, don`t want much internal travelling as on departure I`ll have a lot of travelling to do ?

    Also if I have to spend a night in Manilla before flight out, any suggestion for where to stay, preferably near to airport.

    Hopefully basic questions and would be grateful for useful answers.


    Thanks



  2. #2
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    Davis Knowlton's Avatar
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    [quote=roamer;2680982]

    Of the 2 destinations in my header which has more nightlife, bars, restaurants ?

    /quote]

    Boracay.

  3. #3
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    Beerlaodrinker recently did a good photothread on Boracay

    https://teakdoor.com/philippine-forum...and-babes.html

  4. #4
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    Clark to Subic is just a couple of hours, good choice if you don't want to travel much. Clark/Angeles also has better nightlife, but no beach of course...
    A few hours North by bus you'd find Bauang/San Fernando offers beach resorts for lazy relaxation.

  5. #5
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    Alone - head for Angeles - with female go Borocay

    If in Manila - stay in makati palace hotel close to action,safe and easy from airport.

  6. #6
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    yes, i'd have thought it would be clear.

    boracay for the beach.

    subic for prozzies.

    Quote Originally Posted by roamer
    I am not too concerned about day time activities
    Location: Pattaya



  7. #7
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    Davis Knowlton's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by cyrille View Post
    subic for prozzies.
    Angeles for prozzies. Zillions. Subic has few to offer in comparison.

  8. #8
    Hangin' Around cyrille's Avatar
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    but he's asking about whether to go to boracay or subic ...

  9. #9
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    The beaches in Boracay are better than those in Subic. What the other poster said - if you choose Angeles or Subic, you could also head more north to Bauang/San Fernando in La Union. But then those are small towns, so almost no nightlife. If you want to go super north, you can go to Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte. There are lots of good beaches there too. Not many farangs go there, so they're not very commercial - again, small town vibe.

    If you'll stay in Manila and want to be close to the airport, I would recommend Microtel Hotel. It's near Mall of Asia, where there are lots of restos. In April, it would be the height of summer, very hot & humid, and maybe you'll enjoy the breeze from Manila Bay (though the bay can get smelly sometimes). At the back part of the Mall of Asia, there are lots of open-air bars and restos where you can chill.

    If you want some girlie bars, you can hop on a taxi and go to Ermita/Malate. That area also has some decent bars with live music. If you want a quirky hotel (also near the airport), stay at H2O hotel. You can also opt to stay in the Ermita/Malate area if you want to be near both the airport & girlie bars. Beerlaodrinker recently stayed in a hotel in Ermita/Malate with his family. I don't know the name of the hotel but it looked nice in the pics.

  10. #10
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    For beach,bars, and bands Boracay has to be your destination. Most of the action occurs around Station 2, especially D'Mall.

    There are many bars along the length of White Beach where you can chill out during the day or night.All the bars offer two for one type "Happy Hours" and some you might like to check out are,Ngi Ngi Noos, Charlz Bar, Bom Bom Bar and the Red Coconut Bar and if you want to go for a walk and reward yourself with a nice view and a cold one,try out the Spider House down at Diniwid. If you like to ramp it up a bit check out Cocomangas or Juice or if you want it a little bit more native try the Red Pirates.

    As for bands you will find them up and down the beach,my favourites for bands would be, Bom Bom and Charlz Bar.The Regency at Station 2 usually has a rock band and if you get lucky,somewhere on the strip you may come across Ferns Tosco or Armand TJ doing their thing, a couple of talented locals

    There are resto's everywhere and you will be spoilt for choice. Everything from Mediterranean to seafood to local barbecue.

    If you are going in the middle of April be aware that Boracay gets mobbed at Holy Week(Easter). The Dragon Lady and I have been during Holy Week and loved the madness of it but on this visit we will be slipping out of Boracay on April 1st after 8 relaxing days.If I can manage it I will try to post some pics before you go,if not you can check out some I posted earlier or have a look at Beerlaodrinkers' excellent thread.

    Have a good trip
    You're fat,Ill fro you in the river

  11. #11
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    Subic/Barrio Barreto has decent nightlife and an eclectic bunch of retirees and expats for a beer and a bullshit, with the new express way you can get there from angeles in an hour these days , plenty of minivans depart daily , most will pick you up from your hotel , the beachs there arent all that flash compared with boracay but boracay takes some beating imho, If you do decide on boracay check out air phil express or seair flights clark to caticlan then pump boat over to Boracay, maybe you could spend a day or 2 in angeles and find a "date" to take with you Sorry cant remember the name of the hotel i stayed in in manila but it was in the malate area , i would go with katies suggestion of staying at the H20 hotel looks interesting on there website

  12. #12
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    I haven't been to H2O hotel, but I've seen it from colleagues' pics when they went there for a site visit. It certainly looked nice. It's right beside Manila Ocean Park (family-friendly) and near the US Embassy, Intramuros & Rizal Park.

    If you don't want to fly to Boracay, and want to stay near Clark or Subic, then you can also try Hundred Islands National Park - it's a small group of islands, some are just atolls and you can go island hopping. You can base yourself in Alaminos, Pangasinan, where there are resorts, then hire a boat to take you to the islands for a day trip. There are two islands developed for tourists, Quezon & Governor's islands. I went there with friends some years ago. I think it was Governor's island, can't remember exactly. There's a trail leading up the hill, and the view on top was nice. We went there during the May 1st (labor day) long weekend, and there were lots of local tourists; can't remember if there were farangs. Again, Alaminos is a small town/city, so virtually no nightlife. You could always drink beer and sing karaoke with the locals. Filipinos love to sing.

    Re: holy week, usually it's a long weekend - Thursday, Friday are usually declared as holidays, so people flock to the beaches and resorts. If you want to see the madness of it, then try Boracay during holy week.

  13. #13
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    can't remember if there were farangs
    Aren't they called "Americanos" over there?

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    ^No. Never been called that in 18 years. Been called "Joe", as in "Hey, Joe" now and then - a leftover from WW2. Americano - never heard it.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by neemo View Post
    can't remember if there were farangs
    Aren't they called "Americanos" over there?
    Correct. I'm just using the word "farang" since it's what I see being used in TD. But yes, for white foreigners, the generic term is "kano" for Amerikano (male), "kana" for Amerikana (female). Every white person is a kano or kana, regardless of country of origin - US, Canada, Aussie, British, German, etc. Kinda like "gringo" or "gringa" in Latin American countries. Every black person is "negro", but pronounced the Spanish way, not the English way, with short vowel sounds (nehg-ro, not neeg-roe). But of course, it's not polite to say kano or kana, negro or negra. It's slang and not used in polite conversation.

  16. #16
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    ^Never been called either a kano or an Americano in all my time here. And I live surrounded only by Filipinos, and often don't see a non-Filipino for months. I'm not disputing that such words exist in the language, but they are certainly not common usage in my experience.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton View Post
    ^Never been called either a kano or an Americano in all my time here. And I live surrounded only by Filipinos, and often don't see a non-Filipino for months. I'm not disputing that such words exist in the language, but they are certainly not common usage in my experience.
    Maybe they don't say it in your presence because you're a "kano" and you're their boss. The "o" in "kano" is pronounced differently, I can't describe it, but there's an accent, different from how you would pronounce "Amerikano". Maybe your wife can pronounce it for you.

    Even my colleagues (who are all college educated) sometimes use the terms "kano" and "kana", when speaking among ourselves. But we don't use it when speaking in front of foreigners.

  18. #18
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    ^I am usually called "tay" or t'atay" or "lolo"; except for my two-year old granddaughter who this evening called me "unggoy" in a moment of extreme displeasure.

  19. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton View Post
    ^I am usually called "tay" or t'atay" or "lolo"; except for my two-year old granddaughter who this evening called me "unggoy" in a moment of extreme displeasure.
    See, they were being polite, in calling you "Tatay" or "Lolo". Kids in my old neighborhood call my dad "Lolo" too. They daren't call you "kano" to your face. As for "unggoy", well, you'll fit right in with they guys I photographed at Monkey Forest.

    You have a gd already? (gasp) I thought your kids are still in school? Are they in high school or college already (La Salle)?

  20. #20
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    Hi

    Just a Thanks for all the useful replies, appreciated.

    crocman, by your description, seems like I would love the Boracay bar/music scene.

    I wasn`t aware that mid April would be the busiest time and as it happens was planning on going on or about April 12- 14 so useful to know.

    Decision as to which to go to not yet made, might even consider extending the break and try both.

    Cheers


  21. #21
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    I'm in Subic at the moment staying in Barrio Barreta. As far as beaches go the one here is not great so if it's beach life someone is after I would definatly go to Boracay. The nightlife here is your usual go go bars and I'm yet to find any bars with live music. In saying that there is 2 very good bars called Midnight Rambler and Harley's. Both play good music, serve good food and cold beer and there is no hassle. Subic is ok but I would not call it a great beach resort. I reckon this will be my first and last visit.

  22. #22
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    @Gary, Just sent you PM.

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    Midnight ramblers always been a good bar. Who runs it these days Gary? Used to be a one legged aussie called tony ( good bloke) then later another aussie, Kim , another good bloke, if my memory serves me correctly Harley's is on the small street leading to Baloy beach? Good rooms from what I can recall

  24. #24
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    although I am going there in a couple of weeks that is only because it is convenient for my Manila friend's All Saints holiday weekend and she is from Olongapo. I don't think the nightlife in Barrio Barretto is all that good at all. In fact, it's crap. I wouldn't touch one of those Subic birds with a bargepole. Bring one in from Manila, where there is countless millions of them. They'll even come up on the bus and you can meet them at Olongapo bus station on a motorbike. They just get on the back and away you go. That is the Philippines.

    I'm betting Boracay will be better for the OP, however don't fly into Clark - there used to have a flight from Clark to Caticlan, but not any more.

    coming from KL, you don't have to link through Manila or Luzon to get to Boracay anyway. You can go via Cebu and that is the way I would do it for sure.

    Scottish Gary, seeing as you are in Subic right now, can you ask around for me to see if anybody is hiring scooters out and not thieving? Last time I was there they wanted 500 a day at Sheaven's, which is too much.
    Last edited by callippo; 06-10-2015 at 12:17 AM.

  25. #25
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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23 View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Davis Knowlton View Post
    ^Never been called either a kano or an Americano in all my time here. And I live surrounded only by Filipinos, and often don't see a non-Filipino for months. I'm not disputing that such words exist in the language, but they are certainly not common usage in my experience.
    Maybe they don't say it in your presence because you're a "kano" and you're their boss. The "o" in "kano" is pronounced differently, I can't describe it, but there's an accent, different from how you would pronounce "Amerikano". Maybe your wife can pronounce it for you.

    Even my colleagues (who are all college educated) sometimes use the terms "kano" and "kana", when speaking among ourselves. But we don't use it when speaking in front of foreigners.
    kano is the equivalent of farang but not gaijin, it means any white foreigner not just Americans and is not insulting at all. Filipinos use it all the time, even in front of foreigners, it can come out sounding more like kanU than kanO, I myself use kano often too, as in I might say to a Filipino something like do you know if that kano restaurant is open tonight. Or that kano guy from Norway, was he there? It's just informal and not insulting at all.

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